We all try our best to be prepared for when disaster strikes. We gather supplies, we make plans. But last year’s winter storms showed us that we need to do more. After seeing the damage done in our district and across the state this past weather season, and with more inclement weather undoubtedly in our future, we must take meaningful steps to be prepared for the worst. That is why I am excited to support LD 1, “An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine’s Communities, Homes and Infrastructure.”

Pardon my pun, but LD 1 will help set up Maine to better weather, well, the weather. Building off of efforts made during the previous Legislature, the bill will introduce three key initiatives to set us up for success.

First, the bill will create the Home Resiliency Program, which will provide $15 million in one-time funding to help homeowners invest in improvements to their properties. Grants for up to $15,000 will be made available for resiliency projects, like those that would reduce roof damage or basement flooding. These kinds of projects can often be costly and time consuming, so creating an avenue for Mainers to tackle these projects without being set back financially will certainly be beneficial for our community as a whole.

The second part of the proposal makes enhancements to Maine’s emergency communications system and increases funding for what are called “resilience and storm recovery revolving loan funds.” In an emergency, we need to make sure first responders and emergency personnel are able to communicate with those in need across the state. The loan funds will support community projects to help prepare and rebuild our communities, both before and after inclement weather.

Finally, this bill establishes the State Resilience Office and Flood-Ready Maine Program. The office will operate within the Maine Office of Community Affairs and will work to support planning efforts to reduce flood and storm damage. While I am grateful to both the federal aid that came through, as well as Gov. Mills’ efforts to distribute storm relief funds during last year’s storms, the office would work a bit differently. The State Resilience Office would work with municipalities specifically to look at ways to mitigate damage, so that those municipalities can make informed decisions about how they allocate resilience resources, reducing potential losses or costs.

It was heartbreaking to see how many lives were uprooted by the destruction of the 2024 winter storms. While nobody can predict the future (and believe me, I wish I could), there is a real possibility that we could face similar or worse storms in the future. I want to make sure that when those storms come, we’re prepared. I want to know that when the rain comes, we will stay dry; when the temperature drops, we will stay warm; and when the wind howls, our walls will stand firm. I believe this legislation will help us do just that, and I look forward to voting in favor of this bill when it comes to a final vote on the Senate floor next week.

Joseph Rafferty is a member of the Maine State Senate representing District 34, Berwick, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, North Berwick and Wells. He can be reached at Joe.Rafferty@legislature.maine.gov or 207-287-1515. Sign up an email newsletter at mainesenate.org.